Last weekend, I had the good fortune of viewing Frog Chemical Water You, one of many wonderful films that were part of the DC Environmental Film Festival. Frog Chemical Water You is a 17-minute film on how chemicals affect our environment. I liked the film because, even though it is quite clear regarding the harsh facts of the impact of our use of chemicals on the environment, it includes simple steps we can take to reduce our chemical footprint. One step is to create our own kitchen cleaner (the recipe is included at the end of this post).
As a member of Team EcoEtsy, a group of crafters with Etsy stores who are dedicated to following sustainable practices, I have been privy to several discussions on making your own household cleaners. Recently, the topic of Sodium Borate (Borax) came up, along with the issue of how safe it is.
According the Mountain Rose Herbs’ data sheet on Borax, it is a mineral, which “naturally occurs from the repeated evaporation of seasonal lakes.” While it is natural, Mountain Rose Herbs does warn that Borax is “Not to be ingested, large doses may be fatal. May cause irritation if exposed to the skin, eyes, or if inhaled. Handle with caution, and keep away from children and pets.”
A report published in the International Journal of Toxicology stated that “Sodium Borate and Boric Acid, in concentrations of 5%, are safe as cosmeticingredients when used as currently recommended (not in food products). However, cosmetic formulations containing free Sodium Borate or Boric Acid atthis concentration should not be used on infant or injured skin.”
And a post on the EcoEtsy team listserv listed one article that advises caution in using Borax, while another says that it is safe to use in your home. Not having a chemistry background, I was not sure how to weigh and balance all of this information.
So, when two producers of Frog Chemical Water You offered to take questions after the film, I was the first one to step up to the mike and ask them about the safety of Borax. Dr. Shirlee Tan (a biologist who specializes in environmental toxicology, wildlife toxicology, and cellular and molecular biology) and Dr. Christiana Grim were very helpful. They said that overall Borax is pretty safe and has a low toxicity profile.
Because of the conflicting information I have come across in trying to determine the safety of various ingredients, I asked them for definitive sources of scientific information on chemicals. They suggested I search the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database, which I already use all the time as a resource. They also recommended looking at the Materials Safety Data Sheets for any given chemicals (here is one for Borax). Being unfamiliar with the nomenclature of Materials Safety Data Sheets, I found this resource helpful in deciphering the information.
After sifting through all of this information, I have come to the conclusion that Borax is safe to use in homemade cleaning products, as long as you use common sense in handling it. Don’t handle it if you have cuts, abrasions, or burns on your hands, don’t ingest it, and definitely don’t let your kids and pets get into it.
Recipe for Homemade All-Purpose Household Cleaner
- 3 cups of hot water
- 2 Tablespoons of vinegar
- 1/4 cup of Borax (sodium borate)
- 1 Tablespoon of phosphate-free dishwashing liquid (like Seventh Generation)
Mix well and store in a spray bottle. Use as you would any commercial cleaner.
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Wow. Thank you for your research!
I posted that thread on EcoEtsy because I came across so many conflicting stories about Borax and was so confused. I’d figured our intelligent team members would have the answers.
But your research and your answer make me feel safe to use Borax now.
Thank You!
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Thank you, Karen. You inspired me to find out more about this topic. We should never assume that just because something is natural that it is safe, yet I am always skeptical when a natural substance that has been used for generations starts getting touted as dangerous. There’s so much information to sort through, but I always feel better when I am fully informed.
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Thanks for the great post!
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Great clarification on the use of Borax! I use it in my dishwasher detergent but now I’ll make your household cleaner too-thanks. I looked up the MSDS for Borax after Karen’s initial post and should have shared it. You can get tons of MSDS info from Sigma Aldrich Chemical Company, including Borax. I’m a scientist and order from this company frequently.
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Thank you for your comment, Rachel. And it’s good to know that you are a scientist — I may be asking you chemistry-related questions at some point!
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Thank you, Cory. I appreciate your feedback!
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I knew about MSDS and cosmetic database by EWG but didn’t think to check Borax……Duh……
Thanks for the tip Rachel.
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I always turn to the EWG database for information on cosmetics ingredients. But I have to say, they tend to err on the side of caution, and at times I have found that relatively safe ingredients get very high (bad) scores, because they don’t allow for different forms of the ingredients. For example, I use vegetable glycerine in some of my products, and for a while they listed glycerine as being something to avoid. This is because certain methods of creating glycerine can leave toxic residue. However, pure vegetable glycerine extracted using gentle methods is very safe. When you search for Borax, it comes up with a ton of cautions, making it look pretty toxic, but I believe it includes many different forms other than plain sodium borate.
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Yes, I looked it up on EWG, and borax gets an F from them. (http://www.ewg.org/guides/substances/5495) It says it can range from a C to an F depending on concentration/usage. It rates it as having a high concern for developmental and reproductive toxicity. It lists some studies underneath, but no links. I’m wondering if the damage came from eating borax, or trace amounts, like what might be ingested when using borax in a dish detergent. Anyone know?
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Actually, if you look up Borax/Sodium Borate on EWG’s Skin Deep Database (which is the element/ingredient, not the commercial product Borax), it scores a 5-6 on a scale of 10, which means a moderate hazard. The research they cite shows that it is not recommended for food or cosmetics. http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/705996/SODIUM_BORATE/
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Thank you for the well-informed post!
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I have a question:
I mixed up a mixture of 1 cup Borax, 1 cup washing soda, 1/2 cup kosher salt and 1/2 cup fruit fresh as a dishwashing soap. On the rinse cycle i put vinegar in there. Are these ingredients safe to mix together? I only use 1 tablespoon in dishwasher.
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Hi Roberta, thank you for your question. I am not a chemist, so cannot tell you for sure whether or not this particular combination of ingredients is safe. I do not know enough about how washing soda or the ingredients in fruit fresh might interact with salt and Borax. You may want to check with the American Chemistry Society’s Green Chemistry Institute. I am guessing that someone there may be able to direct you to someone who is qualified to answer your question.
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This is good information, as I would prefer to make my own cleaning agents and have been struggling to find out the right ingredients.
But it leaves me with another question. I read that Borax is helpful to actually ingest (in small amounts) for balancing the bodies PH levels, helping with things like fibromyalgia. Is this also true? I would think if we can use it on our dishes and its safe them consuming it would be safe too? But I’d rather be sure because the wrong info could be poisonous.
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Hi Sonya, Thank you for your comment. I would NOT recommend ingesting it. There are many things you can use externally that you should never take internally. Please see this website run by the Australian Food Authority that has the following warnings about poisoning that results from Borax ingestion: http://www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/consumers/other-food-topics/borax-and-boric-acid/
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Borax is no more toxic than table salt according to all the technical documents. In other words, you have to ingest quite a bit of salt to kill yourself (yes, it will kill you), but even more of borax! The link from Australia shows how much they have fallen under the sway of commercial interests there.
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Question.
All the discussions I’m seeing across the net about Borax safety are squarely focused on human safety.. which is great but I’ve seen nothing on how it effects the environment downstream of our sinks and toilets. Specifically in my case, I’m trying to make my septic field as safe as possible because I have fruit trees that grow around it. The roots do draw from the septic field. So, what happens to Borax as it is introduced to the environment? Can I consider my fruits (limes, lemons) to be safe… to be organic?
Thanks.
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Hi Mark. That’s a good question. I am not a biological/environmental scientist, so can’t give you a definitive answer. My post just focuses on sodium borate and, according to Wikipedia, “The term borax is used for a number of closely related minerals or chemical compounds that differ in their crystal water content,” so it depends on what you mean by “Borax.” You might want to consult with someone who specializes in organic gardening to see what the potential effects are.
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Plants need boron as a trace mineral. Borax is an excellent source of boron for plants. We only put NPK fertilizer down today so our soils have been mined of boron by past generations of food plants, that’s why we suffer from boron deficiencies.
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thank you for this helpful information, Dan.
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I should also add: since I live next to the ocean, how might small concentrations affect the marine environment (coral, fish, etc.)
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That’s another good question! Sodium borate occurs naturally in dry lake beds, so seems to exist in some quantities in fresh water. However, not being a marine biologist, I can’t tell you what the effects might be on marine life in any quantities. This seems like a good question for an environmental scientist/marine biologist. Sorry!
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Good information and discussion. Thanks for sharing. I’ll add it to my continuing research 🙂
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Thank you, Peace. There is a ton of information out there regarding the safety of borax, so I’m honored to have you include it to your data collection efforts.
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Here is another bit of research I came across that sheds more light on the Borax safety question. This study by the USDHHS shows common household products most people use or have used that contain Borax.
http://hpd.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/brands?tbl=chem&id=1216&query=Borax&searchas=TblChemicals
After all the research and comments I have read, I am going to buy the ingredients and try the laundry soap. It has to be at least as safe as the common brands I buy with a list of ingredients and unknowns.
I will switch to vinegar, lemon juice and water for household cleaning also. Besides being a lower cost and safe choice now, it is a choice people who are “Prepping” or working towards Self Sufficiency can put to good use.
🙂 A very good thing. Thanks for your research and postings.
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Thank you very much for the very helpful link – it’s full of great information. I agree that all of the evidence appears to point to the fact that it is perfectly safe to use in home made cleaning products. And, yes, self-sufficiency is an increasingly important skill!
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If you use the actual chemical name instead of Borax, you get a much longer list of products that include the ingredient. It appears to be in most of our detergents, including the “green” ones. Check this link: http://hpd.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/brands?tbl=chem&id=10&query=sodium+tetraborate+decahydrate&searchas=TblChemicals1&prodcat=all
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I blog likewise and I am creating something comparable to this post, “Borax:
Safe or not? | herban lifestyle”. Do you care in the event that I actuallyemploy
a little of your personal ideas? Thank you -Kristian
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That would be fine. Thank you for asking!
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Nice post – but what brought you to that conclusion? And could you tell me what you think about it being used in cosmetics? Thanks so much!
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Thank you, Adrienne. I came to that conclusion given the evidence that I had seen regarding borax’s safety, which I outlined in my post. I have advanced degrees in research, so have a habit of researching ingredients to weigh and balance their pluses and minuses. If I were to be presented with solid evidence that borax is completely harmful then I would change my opinion. As far as its use in personal care products, I have not done any research on that topic, so can’t weigh in at this time. That’s something I would like to look into. Thanks!
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Your article was very informative, and was exactly the information I was searching for. Thanks
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Glad to hear it was helpful, Judy!
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What about borax in the pool chemical ENDURE? Is it safe?
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Hi Linda. I’m afraid that I am completely unfamiliar with Endure.
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What about borax in the pool chemical ENDURE? Is it safe? It’s a pool application at the beginning of the season to keep the pool clean. its active ingredient is sodium tetraborate pentahyrate. It takes 3 applications and you have to use PH decreaser in between because it raises the PH.
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I’m afraid I’m not familiar with the specifics of sodium tetraborate pentahyrate. I looked it up, and it is chemically related to sodium boarate, but I am not a chemist, so really couldn’t speak to the safety of it in the context of pool cleaners. That is not my area of expertise.
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I personally wouldn’t risk exposure to Borax, but that’s just me.
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That’s certainly up to you, Access Door Controls. I put this information out there so that people can make their own informed decision. What made you decide it wasn’t worth it?
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Argh. I make skin care products and use a very small amount — 1/2 teaspoon per recipe — for use as an emulsifier. From what I am reading, it looks like it is safe in that amount — after all, it is a little amount spread out over a larger volume of creams or lotions, i.e. Have you done research yet on the safety of sodium borate in cosmetics/skin care?
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Hi Sandy, I’m afraid I don’t have the answer since I have not done any research on its use in personal care products. Please let me know if you come across some information about its use.
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Okay, thanks. I will.
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The link you posted to understanding MSDS jargonis coming up bank… do you have an updated link for it?
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Thank you very much for letting me know that the link was broken. I have replaced it with a new one http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9924968. I hope this is helpful.
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Or any info that the link provided? Thanks
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Here is a link to another source for the Materials Data Sheet for Sodium Borate http://webs.anokaramsey.edu/chemistry/MSDS/Borax%20Solution.pdf
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This article on the website of Environmental Working Group does not recommend Borax as being safe for cleaning.
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Oops posted the wrong link for Environmental Working Group. Sorry.
http://www.ewg.org/enviroblog/2011/02/borax-not-green-alternative-its-cracked-be
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Thank you so much for sharing this very thorough article, Mandy. I will add this information to my post.
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Thank you for the information, Mandy!
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On this link (posted from someone above)….Here is a link to another source for the Materials Data Sheet for Sodium Borate http://webs.anokaramsey.edu/chemistry/MSDS/Borax%20Solution.pdf…it says Sodium Borate is synonymous with Boric Acid – but it’s my understanding that Boric Acid is MUCH different than Borax…so now I’m more confused than ever – LOL! Maybe someone could clarify?
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I just took a look at the MDS you posted, and it says it’s for a Sodium Borate solution with 1-4% borax, Sodium tetraborate, which apparently is a component of boric acid (I’m no chemist, but this is what I am deriving from the sheet and a quick search on Sodium tetraborate). I’m thinking that, as with most derivatives of natural substances, it is stronger and potentially more toxic than the original substance (boric acid). Any chemists out there, please confirm or clarify!
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Thats almost the recipe i use, except i use castile soap in place of vinegar (not sure why!). This works BETTER at dealing with tough stuff thats been there awhile than anything storebought and is the only spray and wipe cleaner that gets soda stream syrup stains off the bench! Best of all its got no nasty chemicals, no nasty carcinogens AND takes me about 2 minutes to make! Winning! I had a quick research about a year ago and concluded that borax seemed to be safe for use in cleaners, and a lot of the hype was just that – hype. Its so easy to fall into the “oh no thats chemicals!” trap without taking into account that everything is chemicals. And that not all man-made chemicals are bad (penicillin), and not all natural chemicals are safe (arsenic)… I try to be aware, but not BEware.
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Thank you very much for your comment, Jessamy, and for sharing your research and recipe discoveries!
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